45-5-637. Possession or consumption of tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products by persons under 18 years of age prohibited -- unlawful attempt to purchase -- penalties. (1) A person under 18 years of age who knowingly possesses or consumes a tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or vapor product, as defined in 16-11-302, commits the offense of possession or consumption of a tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or vapor product.
(2) A person convicted of possession or consumption of a tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or vapor product:
(a) shall be fined $50 for a first offense, no less than $75 or more than $100 for a second offense, and no less than $100 or more than $250 for a third or subsequent offense; or
(b) may be adjudicated on a petition alleging the person to be a youth in need of intervention under the provisions of the Montana Youth Court Act provided for in Title 41, chapter 5.
(3) A person convicted of possession or consumption of a tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or vapor product may also be required to perform community service or to attend a tobacco cessation program.
(4) A person under 18 years of age commits the offense of attempt to purchase a tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or vapor product if the person knowingly attempts to purchase a tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or vapor product, as defined in 16-11-302. A person convicted of attempt to purchase a tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or vapor product:
(a) for a first offense, shall be fined $50 and may be ordered to perform community service;
(b) for a second or subsequent offense, shall be fined an amount not to exceed $100 and may be ordered to perform community service.
(5) The fines collected under subsections (2) and (4) must be deposited to the credit of the general fund of the local government that employs the arresting officer, or if the arresting officer is an officer of the highway patrol, the fines must be credited to the county general fund in the county in which the arrest was made.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 376, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 55, Ch. 550, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 498, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 337, L. 2015.